Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (L) and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. LEHTIKUVA
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Finland’s Parliament has unanimously approved a law banning property sales to non-resident Russian citizens, citing threats to national security. The new legislation, passed on Friday, bars property transactions by individuals and companies deemed to be involved in acts of aggression or considered a risk to Finland’s sovereignty.
The law exempts Russian nationals who hold permanent residence in Finland, though they must still apply for permission to purchase property.
The same applies to foreigners with EU residence permits issued by Finland.
Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen said the decision sends a firm message.
“We will not allow Finland to be undermined,” Häkkänen stated after the vote. “Parliament’s unanimous support reflects how seriously this issue is taken across party lines.”
The legislation is part of broader efforts to address security concerns arising from increased foreign interest in properties located near critical infrastructure. Finnish authorities have previously expressed concern about real estate acquisitions that could facilitate hostile influence, surveillance, or disruption of national systems.
The Ministry of Defence has begun preparing a decree to specify which countries fall under the scope of the law. According to Häkkänen, this will include states determined by the European Union to be engaged in wars of aggression or who threaten territorial integrity.
The law also introduces a permit requirement to prevent purchases made through intermediaries, sometimes referred to as “dummy buyers.” These are transactions where the real beneficiary is concealed by using a third party to purchase property on their behalf.
Although not explicitly named in the law, Russia is currently the only country affected. The decision follows years of growing tension, particularly after Finland joined NATO and began reassessing vulnerabilities along its 1,300-kilometre border with Russia — the longest land border between Russia and a NATO member.
Concerns have also emerged over previously acquired properties. Authorities have identified unusual sites across Finland linked to Russian nationals, including fortified buildings, underutilised hotels, and properties located close to sensitive areas. These have raised questions over their intended use.
The Finnish government is drafting additional legislation that would allow for post-acquisition intervention in such cases. Officials say the aim is to ensure that existing properties do not pose ongoing risks.
The idea of restricting Russian real estate purchases first gained traction in September 2023. Since then, the Ministry of Defence has highlighted the risk of real estate being used to exert economic or strategic influence.
In a previous interview, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo warned that certain properties might be used as platforms for hostile operations.
The property ban follows other recent moves by Finland to address perceived threats from Russia. In July 2023, Parliament passed a law giving border guards the authority to return asylum seekers arriving from Russia. Officials have accused Russia of using migration as a tool to destabilise Finland, referencing the sharp increase in undocumented arrivals at southeastern border crossings in late 2023.
In response, Finland closed several checkpoints in November 2023. These closures were later extended indefinitely.
The property ban is expected to take effect this spring, once the supporting decree is finalised and adopted.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
